The following is excerpted from the Church News. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.

“We used to teach our families to avoid pornography. That is no longer possible,” said Sister Sharon Eubank, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency and president of Latter-day Saint Charities during her opening keynote address at the Utah Coalition Against Pornography annual conference on Saturday, April 24. 

Pornography is increasingly prevalent in society. In 2020, websites hosting pornography received more website traffic than Twitter, Instagram, Netflix, Zoom, Pinterest and LinkedIn combined.

Because pornography “comes at us in a constant barrage in the most innocent of places … we must learn to talk about it,” explained Sister Eubank at what is one of the largest anti-pornography conferences in the world.

Two common responses to pornography exposure are acceptance and shame — both are at opposite ends of the spectrum, and both are harmful.

The danger of accepting pornography exposure and use is the resulting damage to the brain, she said.

When viewing pornography, fantasy, check-out and speed pleasure centers in the brain are hit, and the brain become attached to the images and less attached to real-life people since they are less stimulating.

“This feedback loop drastically alters the way the brain processes stimulation, and it is not in any way normal or natural,” Sister Eubank said. “Acceptance of pornography retards the very human qualities that make our lives rich and fulfilling: connection, empathy, generosity, discipline, joy in the moment.”

The shame that comes from pornography is “a paralyzing self-loathing that stops all forward motion with its insistent repetition that we are unworthy failures at the very core.”

Shame hinders progress and healing and needs to be reduced as much as possible when having conversations about pornography.

Sister Eubank presented a framework to neutralize shame and “guide the conversations about pornography in a way that is productive and effective.” 

To read the full article, CLICK HERE.